For more than 25 years, we’ve been helping businesses understand what makes them different, communicate it clearly and turn that thinking into brands and digital experiences that people remember.
We’re a little different from a typical web agency.
We’re a branding and creative studio that understands digital.
That means we don’t start with a website template or a list of technical features.
We start with your business.
Who are you? Who are your customers? What makes you different? Where are you trying to go?
Then we use strategy, creativity, design, technology and digital expertise to help you get there.
Brand strategy
Brand positioning
Brand identity
Logo and identity design
Brand guidelines
Tone of voice
Brand architecture
Brand audits
Bespoke website design
WordPress development
eCommerce & Shopify
Website development
UX and UI design
Website maintenance
SEO
Technical SEO
Digital marketing
Graphic design
Packaging
Brochures
Annual reports
Photography
Illustration
Art direction
Digital content
Presentations
Research and discovery
Competitor analysis
Content strategy
Marketing planning
Campaign development
There are plenty of companies that can build you a website.
We believe the difficult part is creating a website that actually feels like your business.
Your brand is much more than your logo.
It’s the way you look, the way you speak, the experience you create and the impression people take away after interacting with you.
That’s why branding has always been at the heart of Popple + Kharlamova.
Our experience in brand strategy, identity and creative design gives us a different perspective when we approach digital projects.
We don’t simply ask:
“What should the website look like?”
We ask:
“What should your business look like, sound like and feel like to the people who matter?”
Then we bring that thinking to life.
We’re proud to be based in Middlesbrough, Teesside, and we’ve worked with businesses throughout the Tees Valley and across the wider North East.
But our work has also taken us much further afield.
Over the years we’ve worked with businesses and organisations across the UK, Europe and the USA, helping brands of very different sizes and industries solve creative, branding and digital challenges.
That combination of local understanding and international experience is an important part of who we are.
We’re close enough to understand the businesses and opportunities around Teesside, while bringing ideas and experience from projects far beyond the region.
Contact us
We’ve been working in branding and design for more than 25 years.
During that time, the world of marketing has changed dramatically.
We’ve gone from print to websites, from desktop to mobile, from search engines to social media, from static websites to eCommerce and increasingly sophisticated digital experiences.
We’ve adapted along the way.
But some things haven’t changed.
Good ideas still matter.
Good design still matters.
Understanding people still matters.
And businesses still need to communicate clearly with the people they want to reach.
That experience allows us to bring perspective to projects that goes beyond the latest design trend or technology.
We understand where digital has come from — and we’re excited about where it’s going.
There are plenty of talented agencies out there.
So why Popple + Kharlamova?
Branding isn’t an add-on for us. It’s where our experience began, and it influences everything we create.
More than 25 years means we’ve worked through changing markets, technologies, industries and challenges.
We don’t assume we already know the answer. We ask questions, challenge assumptions and look for better ways to solve problems.
The best work happens when the client and agency work together. We listen, share ideas and challenge each other when necessary.
The small things matter. From typography and spacing to messaging, user journeys and technical performance, we care about the details.
No unnecessary jargon. No complicated agency theatre.
We’ll tell you what we think, explain why and concentrate on what will actually help your business.
Popple + Kharlamova is made up of specialists across branding, creative design, strategy, web development, SEO, copywriting and digital marketing.
We bring those disciplines together around each client’s individual project.
Creative Director
Jamie leads the creative team and brings more than 25 years of experience in branding and design.
His focus is on finding the creative idea that makes a brand distinctive — and making sure that idea works across every touchpoint.
Brand Strategist & Consultant
Bianca brings strategic and marketing expertise to projects, helping businesses understand their audiences, positioning and opportunities for growth.
Principal Engineer
Kieran leads our web and app development work, combining technical expertise with a strong focus on performance, security and functionality.
Director — Frankfurt Office
Felicitas works with our international clients and helps businesses develop and grow their brands across different markets.
Director - Zurich Office
Based in Middlesbrough (Teesside) and a presence in Frankfurt, we’re here to begin your project.
We help our clients drive their brands forward across all media, disciplines and platforms.
Sachsenhausen – Germany
hello@popplekharlamova.com
Middlesbrough
hello-middlesbrough@popplekharlamova.com
Over the years, we’ve worked with organisations ranging from ambitious start-ups and local businesses to established companies and international brands.
We’ve worked across sectors including:
Manufacturing · Property · Education · Health & Wellbeing · Professional Services · Retail · eCommerce · Hospitality · Charities · Technology
Every business is different.
That’s what makes the work interesting.
We’re based in Middlesbrough, Teesside, with an international presence and clients across the UK and beyond.
Whether you need to create a new brand, redesign your website, launch an eCommerce business, improve your digital presence or simply work out what you should be doing next, we’d love to hear from you.
“Your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room“
“Design is the silent ambassador of your brand``.
``A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is - it is what consumers tell each other it is``